The new project from the creator of Cowboy Bebop is already on its way.
The creator of the cult anime Cowboy Bebop Shinichiro Watanabe returns to the big animation game with a new project – Lazarus.
This time Chad Stahelski – the man who gave the world John Wick – is at his side. The cult director is betting big on the action series, and fans hope that the director will repeat the success of his cult works.
What Will Lazarus Be About?
The plot of Lazarus takes place in the year 2052. Humanity has reached an unprecedented level of harmony and prosperity. The reason for this is the invention of the drug Hapna, created by the Nobel Prize winner Dr. Skinner.
This drug cured people of all diseases, became an integral part of the life of society, and the savior of humanity himself disappeared. But three years after its introduction, the neurobiologist returns with a terrifying warning: soon, those who have taken Hapna will die.
To save humanity, a special group of agents is created, codenamed Lazarus. They have 30 days to find Skinner and develop a vaccine.
How Did Chad Stahelski Come to Be Involved in the Production of an Anime?
The biggest name among the creators, besides the director of the series himself, was Chad Stahelski. The former thought until the very end that the director of John Wick would refuse to cooperate with him due to his busy schedule.
The director contacted his colleague to clarify how his team manages to create such spectacular and impressive action scenes. The creator of Samurai Champloo wanted to repeat the same style in Lazarus.
And not only did Stahelski not turn down the iconic Japanese animator, he offered his help on a completely pro-bono basis.
Stahelski's help made it possible to keep the budget of Lazarus within reasonable limits and to take the action scenes to a new level.
Lazarus Was Made by One of the Best Modern Anime Studios
The animation of Lazarus was done by MAPPA Studio. The company whose name is known to every anime fan. Their filmography includes Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, Dororo, Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen.
Trailers demonstrate the high quality of the visual component: smooth animation of movements and dynamics of action episodes look even more convincing thanks to the involvement of Stahelski, who added Hollywood spectacle to Lazarus.
You can expect high-speed car chases, dangerous shootouts and, of course, hand-to-hand combat.
Lazarus Release Date
Lazarus looks like a project that combines the best of the famous Japanese visionary's work: an original story concept in the world of the future, charismatic characters, skillful animation of battle scenes and a jazz soundtrack.
MAPPA Studio promises a total of 13 episodes, which will be broadcast from April 5th.